The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-04
TWO VERY SAD SUICIDES
CHARLES sIEDHOF, LID. AND
HIS WIPE DIE BY POISON.
The Victims OF Biblomanla--A Tragic
Termination to Pity Years Of
Married Life.

NKw YORK, June 3.-Charles Sied.
hof, LID, OF Union Hill, N. j., and
his wife, having journeyed happily to-
Rethsr for over half q century, com.
mitted suicide on Wednesday. Their
bodies now lie at Goschwind's
moreue. They preferred death to
separation, and took poison RATHER
than 90 to the poorhouse. Their
lives, ended so trsgically, had been
we'll spent. They had devoted them
selves to study, but they failed to &C
quire that which Is needful 10 an aged
couple who're course is almost run
money. 0n Tuesday they were to
have been taken to the county aims
house at Snake Hill. While the car
rage was In waiting at the door Of
their wretched home to convey them
TO the poorhouse they drank the fatal
draught. Both hao attained the ripe
aga Of ninety years. The husban de
mind was still clear and he was strong
and active, but the wfs's was clouded.
She had become feeble and childish
and had been in her dotsge for a
twelvemonth. Siedhof prepared the
poisonous decoction and his wife quick
ly drank 1t of. He hesitsted for time
and then he drank OF the cup and ter
minated his life. The doctor, as he
was Familiarity called by every one in
the town where he had lived for forty
Year,, was once well to do. He WAS a
graduate OF Heidelberg University and
an eminent lipguist. 1t is said he had
mastered dozen Languages. He pat
bionately loved his books, and added
to his collection every rare aud usefu,
work he could find. His wife was a
woman OF culture, and when they
opened private school at Union Hill
they had the patronage Of the wealth.
lest residents. They accumulated
property, but too close application
10 books and neglect of attention to
their other interests lost them their
fortune. Siedhof grew careless about
his dress after his reverses, and his
untidy appearance was Objectionable
10 his patrons, who removed their
children until his class became 80
small that it was Improbable and he
abandoned teaching. He took to
trsnslating works and did well, but his
money was spent in purchasing more
books. He was induced to take an in
terest in patent cooking utensil, and
wss 30 infatuated with IL that for sew
eral years he contributed all his saw
ipgs TO the patent. 1t prove ],howsver,a
dismal failure. He was too far advanced
in years toTecoup, sHd sank steadily in
the battle against adversely. For sew
tral years he had occupied apartments
in frame house at No. 81 Liberty
street.. Friends kept the wolf from
the door, and the butchers and gro
GERS bills went to William Peters, tie
brewer, and others. The venerable
wide began to fail in health year ago,
ard since then their wretchsd rooms
have been 30 neglected that the neigh
bors complained OF the venerable cou-
pie as nuisau CO. The landlady had
asked that they be forced to vacate.
0verseer of the Poor, William Arm
bruster, visited Snake Hill and ar
ranged to have the. siedhofa removed
to the county almthouse. He informed
DIR. Siedhot week ago that he had
procured employment for him at a
hospital. The wise doctor knew what
it meant. He and his spouse were to
go 10 the poorhouie and be separated.
They were to have been moved on
Monday, but it being Decoration Day
the transfer was postponed until yes
terday. When the poormaster, ac-
companied by Officer Knight, called
at the house The doctor a iswered the
summons, opened tbs door only
few inches and ssked for
two hours delsy. This was granted.
When the officers returned no begged
for another half hour, pc 'ding that
he wanted to arrange some books and
papers. This delay WAS also accorded,
but when the officers came back he
asked for only five minutes more. He
closed the door and retired to his
room, swallo Ded mixture OF beer and
cyanide OF potassium, aud when the
postmaster, who had grown sc spicious,
opened the window the Wits was found
lying dead on the floor, while her bus
band was dying by her side. DIR.
Schlem was called, but it wac too late,
end the husband expired just as the
physician entered the house. He had
decided 10 die, as the following letters
indicate:
MoKDkY MORNING, 4 o'clock.
Whan Mr. Egeoh callpd on IN To m AXE me